Fat Tags

I developed perhaps the ultimate in 'sustainability' based perma culture farming with almost no tilling required here in Oregon. I am not big on all the sustainability jargon but what I have done is created a kind of natural farm factory that I would like to see reproduced on a larger level. It produces high carbohydrate value food with almost no irregation although some was required to get it started and revolves around an ancient plant speices friend of man-kind the Chestnut Tree. Believe it or not chestnut trees can produce upto 2,000 lbs each of nuts a year if spaced at least 40 feet apart. There is a story and a book on how to do what has been discovered here on a small farm at a very much larger and perhaps international basis. The economy and use of the Chestnut is a bit of a harder sell than wheat , rice or corn. It is the lowest fat tree nut in existence. It is also glutten free. The farm still has nuts for sale from last year thanks to their being no organized major distribution network for our product like other basic crops and growing competition (all good for the long run) Money or new land to develop in the Pacfic Northwest is sought after. We have many nuts to plant and many seedlings ready to transplant and we have other types of plants that play a role in the development. Inexpensive cleared land that needs to be replanted in the Northwest is sought after for this purpose. Land that is inexpensive and not suitable for vinyards or other uses other than slow timber growth would be perfect but at an affordible price please if possible. The amazing thing about chestnut trees is their tap roots can allow them to self irregate in places where it seems there is no water to resourse at all at the surface. donations accepted as well as land donations/ participation. Chestnut trees also have value as wood and timber as a hard wood. In some areas once timber is cut down in the Northwest most of the value of the land is gone which would be a perfect time for us to go in and buy iti to reforest it with an eye to new permaculture farming. please help if you can.

Bad economy, slowed daycare business in our home, behind on mortgage just need to catch up. We've cut out all the fat in our budget: NO cell phone, cable, dining out, movies. Just trying to make it through this hard time. If everyone who is looking at this website would just send me a dollar, I believe that would be suffice to help us out. Please HELPP! Thank you in advance to all who give to our cause.

This is why I'm posting here:

I am 25 and for my entire life, I have been fat. I don't mean this as in, a little on the chubby side; but obese. I can remember being in 5th grade, when our class had to get weighed and measured at the nurses office. The sinking feeling in my gut that came up when I weighed almost 200 lbs at the age of 10 is something that I don't think I will entirely forget.

Because of my horrible diet as a child (McDonalds, soda, you name it), I have spent my entire young life coping with being overweight and all of the horrible things that go with it: wondering if I'll fit in a seatbelt, wondering if I would break a friends bed or chair if I sat on it, or never being able to find a cute outfit to wear like all the other girls. When I was about 14, I was diagnosed with PCOS, which is cysts on my ovaries (contributing to my obesity, or as a result of, but they worked in tandem to make my life miserable). Without health insurance, I was never able to get this issue resolved, and with my poor diet, my weight increased. PCOS symptoms also include abnormal facial and body hair, which was (and to a degree still is) the bane of mine and any woman's existence. A woman should never have to feel so ashamed of her own body, and yet that is exactly how I've felt for as long as I've realized that I was different, and that looks mattered.

My highest weight as of 4 months ago topped out at 324 (thought I had reached 340 a year earlier but had lost some weight over a long period of time). Recently I began taking HCG (a hormone that helps regulate fertility and also helps with weight loss), and am amazed to report that for the first time in my adult life, I am 270 lbs. While this still is a lot, for me it is an incredible number to be at. Never in my life have I felt the fear of dying at 30 begin to be lifted, though I still have a long way to go.

So the point of my request: there are a lot of dreams I have that I feel like I am within reach of grasping. Some of them have already been fulfilled: I have been able to travel with my family, and this past year my parents helped me to finance a jeep. This is a huge one...I live on the west coast and have always wanted to live a surfer/beach lifestyle.

But how could a fat girl ever be a surfer? It's been my dream for the past 10 summers to learn to surf, with beaches only 15 minutes away. But every year, the fear stopped me, my weight stopped me, my inability stopped me.

I want this year to be the last year fear gets in the way.

With my weight going down, I've been trying to exercise. I've been attempting a modified version of P90X, and have been eating healthy and avoiding all the foods that got me where I am today. The problem is that financially, while I do work full time, I barely make enough to cover my bills (gas, car insurance, car payment, cell phone), and am not even able to help my hard working parents pay rent. So money for extras this summer is not really possible, but I CAN'T let another year go by without accomplishing this task.

I want to attend a surf camp this summer in San Diego, called Surf Divas. The problem? Surf lessons are expensive. I think to get me on the right path, I'd need at least 10 hours of lessons. At $82 an hour, thats $820.

The reason I want to fulfill this dream is to prove to myself and others that no matter where you've been, or how far your body is from being in shape, that the human body is remarkably capable of change. I would want to encourage anyone who doesn't think they are the right "type" to surf or do a sport that they can push their bodies to do things they never thought possible. And I sincerely believe that learning to surf will help me pursue my health and fitness goals long term, as well as truly set free the earth-and-sea-loving hippie that I keep snug and close to my soul. I live for summer and the ocean...and being able to ride a way would be life changing for me.

If anyone is able to donate or help support me in taking charge of my health and fitness...there would be no adequate way to thank you. I will send you a picture of me riding my very first wave as a token of gratitude, with a friendship bracelet made by me with a few shells from the beach strung on it. My way to say thank you for helping me to live a healthy life.

I'm a giver who rarely gets, but if you could change that, I would be most grateful.

<3

I'm a 31 year old male, oh and my 4 year old kitty. Life has not been easy but I always did my best to keep moving forward. From dealing with childhood abuse to climbing the corporate/social latter and falling.. I've always tried to "handle it" and do everything the right way, all on my own and helping everyone I could in anyway I could along the way.

I've worked very hard and instead of being out there in the world stealing or making babies I can't afford I got a good job, car, and bought my first home at age 20. I'm the kinda friend you know has his own issues and he don't wanna bum you out with them but you can say "Hey James, I can't make my rent, can I borrow this.." or "James my house burned down can I come live wit you?" or "my boyfriend is about to be deported can you buy his old car so we can afford the lawyers?" and my answers are as follows; How much you need?, how long Can you stay + here's $2000 come buy a co-op in my building I'll put in a good word for you, and will it pass inspection?? All this before I was even 25 and these people were older than me! Grown men coming up to my desk at work tell me "I'm hungry" or even just a simple "Feed me" while perched atop my cubicle like a starving pigeon and we'd laugh and joke and sure enough I would buy or bring in something good to eat. I'm the kind of friend that for your birthday from me your most likely to get something we saw in a store window months ago, just to surprise you and make you happy cause it was meaningful to you. Also very kind to those I don't know who seem to be in need, even when we didn't speak the same language, they were drunk and I didn't know if I was walking into trouble.

Somewhere between then and now my life has turned completely upside down. The weight of what I had previously survived (praise God) and what I am now going through don't balance anymore. I lost that home and car and job due to a disability and even though by now you must think me a generally upbeat, diligent, resourceful, praise his name in wrong or right soul I'm lost and I need to rebuild. My entire support system was slowly picked off by my family and close friends life circumstances. I hate telling people how it all happened because to me it sounds like I'm saying I'm cursed and horrible things just keep happening to me. I accept my responsibility for my end and do self checks constantly. Even when thrown into situations far beyond my years, or no one should expect and try to deal with careful thought, civility and grace.

The one last thing I had to hold on to, that was keeping me strong and helping me grow as a person was the love I thought I had but apparently I did not. Lying, fear, cheating, HIV, emotional abuse, sneakiness, poverty, hurt, uncertainty, finding out the person who was the love of your life gave him HIV on purpose but still didn't want him!, cancer and treatments, severely persistent and mental illnesses, self-centeredness, the loss of friends and family acting shady and all that was just my relationship with my EX! So of course me being me for the most part stowed my problems.. "as usual" even if it left me in a bad spot financially, emotionally or physically and I was there! Loving and Supportive even after I was almost attacked. It's a fine line between being a damn fool and doing the right thing, I know but now I'm all on my own. I'm on medicare but the co-pays and deductible are killing me, I can't stay where I am, I'm fat, unhappy and depressed but still thanking God for all the blessing, some time's I feel like asking for more would be an exercise in futility But I'm here. I recently learned that it's ok for me to ask for help. What I'm begging for is to please, please, say a prayer for one another and me! be good to one another and if you could please help me reach my $2,000 goal to a new begining of self sufficiency so I can stop being a broken person and go back to helping others, me and kitty would be forever in your debt and pray for you as well. Amen

September 2011: Had a nearly fatal motorcycle accident on Lucent Blvd. in Denver. The events leading up to the accident I am unclear of, all I remember is waking up underneith a car and couldnt move. I remember the ambulance showing up to extricate me. Apparently I had a shattered pelvis and a broken humorus. I also sustained another concussion. I never was a big fan of the helmet, in fact very rarely did I wear one. I just happened by chance to decide to wear one that day, if I hadnt I'd be dead. It used to be that I struggled to survive, now I struggle to exist. This account is by my wife:

On September 28th, 2011
My husband Trevan had an accident on is his way to an Interview and he was going on Lucent to get on to the highway on C470 and was not able to see with the dew on the street and sun glare. He didn’t see the car at the stoplights, going on to C470. Didn’t know or see that it was stopped at the light. The sun was so bad that he slammed right into the person in front of him and went over the handlebars of the motorcycle and over the person’s car and was found underneath the car. The Paramedics found him under the person’s car and had to pull him out from under it.

I got a call about 8:15 am from the fire department letting me know that my husband was in an accident. I was so scared I was trying to get my son ready for school and get my daughter ready to so I could take him. I was told that he was taken to Littleton Hospital and that I can call over there and get info on how he is doing. Instead of me calling the ER the ER nurse called me and gave me some info about what they are doing and what ER room they are taking him to. They took some x-rays and he couldn’t be moved because they were not sure about his back. So they did the x-rays in the ER. That is what the nurse told me that they were doing and that he was stable. The nurse also said if I could get to the hospital as soon as I could, it would be a good idea to come since the police and fire department was still there. I told her I would try. I called my mother in law to let her that her son was in an accident and I called my mom. There were other people that I called too. When I got there and I had to park so far in the back of the hospital that I had to ask for directions to get to the ER from the outpatient so I could be there with my husband. When I got there it was very hard to see what he looked like. He had a neck brace on and his left arm was all wrapped up like a present. He had a big gash on the inside of his right leg that was pretty wide and you could see the fat and it kept on bleeding. They would not take off the brace from his neck because they didn’t know what else was going on with him. I met the ER doctors and they told me that he is in quite bit of pain, and that he was starting to not know what happened off and on. I tried to see if he could tell me himself but could not remember. One of the ER doctors was very concerned about the blood in his urine so they took him to another place in the hospital to do some more tests on him. My mom in the mean time called me and told me that she was on her way to be at the hospital with me for support, I told her that I really need some comfort and to keep it together. When she got here Trevan was not yet taken to get tested yet so my mom said hi to him and ask him questions. Then with the ER nurses came in to take him for the tests my mom ask the nurse what kind of test that they were going to do on him and they said it is to check for internal bleeding. When Trevan was taken back we went to sit in the waiting room in the ER. My mom kept asking me questions but I could not answer any of them, because I have not been told about any thing besides what the nurse told me on the phone before I got there. I ask the nurses that were still around they’re about where his belonging were because I needed to know if his wallet and other things like ring and glasses was there. They handed me the beg that had his wallet and other things that they took off of him. I took the beg with me so I could go through it and see if every thing was still with him. His wedding band was in there his wallet was in there and socks and helmet was there too so I took it with me out to the waiting room. There was also a ticket that the police left in it too. My mom took a look at it to find out what all happened. It just said it was his fault but we didn’t think it was his fault, but later on we did fine out it was his fault but we took care of it for him while he was in the hospital. While we were waiting Trevan’s mom came with my daughter to see him but he was still not back in the Trauma room. After a while they finally moved him to a room so we all went there. They took him to the ICU and we had to keep our hands clean at all times coming and going. Trevan was put on many powerful pain medicines for the pain. He was put on dilaudid and he was on that for a while but then he was inching so bad that they took him off of that and put him on morphine he was a little better but still was itching like crazy.

Doug and Jan drove out here on Wednesday night they didn’t stop except for brakes and gas but they drove all the way through so could see Trevan. They arrived at the hospital at 3:30 am. Trevan didn’t remember that his dad and step mom came to see him the first night. I told him twice that they were here and he just didn’t remember it. Every one came to see Trevan everyday Doug and J, Karen and John Hager, Kehli, his mom Beverly. Doug and Jan were here for four days and they were here also for the surgery. We had a lot of people in the waiting room Beverly and our kids, me, and Doug and Jan. I was happy that I had that many people there with me because I was very upset.

October 1st 2011
Trevan had his surgery on both the pelvis and the humerus bone. The doctor started with his pelvis first he said it was the quick one and that Trevan didn’t loose much blood with that one. Then the doctor moved Trevan to another table to do the other part of the surgery. He lost a little bit of blood when they did his surgery on the arm they had to give him two pints of blood. The doctor did come out to tell us the update as he did them and how everything was going. He showed us before and after x-rays. The doctor did a great job of fixing Trevan up. Then after the surgery was done he was in recovery room for about an hour and a half. They moved Trevan to his room afterwards and he still was not doing hot. He kept saying that the room was moving and it made him sick. He tried to keep his eyes closed but it made him even feel worse. He also kept asking for ice chips which I feed to him as much as I could. He was better by the evening, he didn’t feel dizzy any more. Family kept coming to see him and tell him that they love him and pray that he will heal quickly. I stayed with him every night after the surgery to keep an eye on how he was doing. He didn’t remember a lot of things, which in some ways it is good but in some ways it is bad. I think a lot of it had to do with the pain medicine that the doctors was giving him. A nurse told me that it could happen with the medicine could make you forgetful depending on what kind of pain medicine.

October 4th 2011
While Trevan was at the hospital he did fall. He hit his head agents the closet that was in his room. The nurses found him on the floor. They did say that when he fell he landed on his right side and that they don’t think he hurt him self, but he did hit his head when he went down. I asked them if they were going to see if he did any damage, and they said that he didn’t and couldn’t do that much damage because the way he fell. I asked them if he hurt any thing else and the nurse they checked him over and asked him questions and didn’t see any evidence that he had any more damage to what he already had. I asked to if they did any test to see. They said they didn’t do any other tests on him because they didn’t want him to be exposed to any more radiation from the x-ray machine. He was getting out of bed by his self with out any help, which he was not supposed to do that. That is why when he fell they put a bed alarm on his bed so they would know at all times that he gets up, for his safety.

October 5th 2011
During that time while he was a Littleton hospital they were trying to find a rehab place for him so he can start getting back on his feet. They did find one and they had him transferred from Littleton to Porter hospital. Before he left I told him that I would see him later that evening and so will his mom and kids. He said ok and they he was gone. That evening Beverly and the rest of us call daddy from his mom’s phone to let him know that we are coming to see him but we were going to stop and get something to eat on the way up to the hospital. Then while we were eating at Wendy’s he calls me on my cell phone and asks if we were still coming I told him yes. I asked him did you even remember that we called you before and told you that we were coming he said no he didn’t remember. While he was on the phone with me still we asked him if he wanted us to bring something for him. He said yes. We brought him a hamburger and a frosty. When we got to the Porter hospital and got to his room we noticed it was very small and odd shaped. He had a window but in the wrong place or the room was just in the worst place. It looked like a bad shaped L and had no flow to it. I asked Trevan on how he was doing and he said tired and in pain. I said you just been through a lot and it will take a while to heal. Then we gave him is food and let him eat while we also talked to the nurses that were taking care of him there. We also ask that if there was a way for a cot to be put in there so I could stay with him some of the times. They said yes that they will get one in the room the next time I come up to see him. I said thanks. They also had a bed alarm on his bed and his wheel chair that he was using. I am happy that they had that on there but the moment that he got up to use the urinal that the alarm went off. And he didn’t feel comfortable with them always coming in and him not able to potty when he wanted too. When he is in the bed but keep it on when he is in the wheel chair because he could not remember to lock his brakes before he transferred form the wheel >chair to bed or just getting up to stand.

October 6th 2011
Trevan calls him mom to get my number to be able to call me. He talked to her for a while and he also asked if we were coming to see him, and also asked if we knew where he was. His mom said yes she knew and asked him if he remembered that we were the other night. He said no and also said that we weren’t there to see him. Which we were there but he just didn’t remember that we were all there his son and daughter me and his mom. He forgot the entire evening and event that we even were there to see him the night before. His mom said to him that we were all coming to see you again tonight so we will see you later. The same day I went to take our van to get the oil changed in it and found out that there was a clucking sound and they told me that it was not safe for me to keep driving it. They said about a week or two would be all I should drive it. I called my dad and asked if he knew any one that I could take my van to get an idea on how much it would cast to get it fixed. This was all the same day that I was going to see Trevan at the hospital. They didn’t want me to drive it anymore until it was fixed. So Beverly had to take me back and forth to and from the hospital for a while. After Beverly got off work we all got in to the car and drove up to the hospital. We asked the nurses if there was any way for Trevan to watch movies other than watching TV all the time. They said yes and told us there is a TV, VCR that is on a cart that can go into their room to watch movies and only VHS tapes only no DVD’S. So mom went into the lunchroom and looked at all the movies and wrote down all the ones that Trevan would be interested in watching. After she was done she brought the list to Trevan to see and to know that he had choices. Then we went home and told Trevan that we will see him later the next day. Then said our good-byes.

October 7th 2011
There was a lot of thing going on this day that I don’t want to go through again. I had to take my van to a place that my sister in law told me about. I made my appointment with them the day before and they wanted me to bring it back today and get it fixed. They even said that it was not safe at all. I left it with them to fix it in the morning. Then I came back home and had more things to do. I had to run around back and forth using my mother in laws car which was ok she was taking care of my daughter and my niece so I got thing done and I was able to relax a little bit. We all went to see Trevan that evening. We had to go and pick up my van after we picked up dinner. Then we left to see Trevan. When we got there into Trevan’s room he looked really tired and in a bit of pain. We got an extra hamburger so we gave it to him so he could eat it. Of course he at it all up. I changed the channel and found shreck the movie and we all watched that with Trevan. The nurse cam in to see how he was doing. He said that he needed more pain medicine, also needed to have his depends changed. The kids and grandma left outside the room while he was getting changed. After he got settled again the kids came back in and they were getting rowdy so I ask Beverly to take the kids home. They gave their daddy a kiss and left. That night I stayed with him and he kept on asking if the nurse had given him his pain medicine. I told him yes that they did give you your medicine. I asked him if even remembered it and he said no. He asked me 4 other times to while I was there. When it was time for him to have another dose of medicine I said to use the call button that is what it is there for instead of me always running in and out of his room to let the nurses know that he needed more medicine. I stayed with him all night it was very hard for me to hear. When Trevan would fall to sleep he would start dreaming and breathing heavy then wake up crying and then fell back to sleep. It would go on about 5 times at night. I think it was nightmares and when he wakes up he would not remember any of it.

October 8th 2011
The nurses were coming into see how Trevan was doing. He had his breakfast and pain medicine. After breakfast the therapist came in to take him to do some therapy stuff. He worked on the ramp with wheel chair going up and down with keeping control with his feet. The first round was 35 minutes. Then comes back and rests for a half-hour and goes again for 30 minutes. Then he came back and rested and had lunch. Then he went with another therapist and goes and has a shower, but after a while he came back. The nurses told me when they came back with Trevan that the cut on the inside of the right leg came open while they were helping him with his shower. He lost a little bit of blood but it hurt him quite a bit. So two nurses came back. One was pushing him and the other on putting pressure on the wound. When he was back in the room he looked like a ghost, and looked very tired. Then his nurse came in to put a different kind of bandage on his leg. By the end of the day he had color back in his face and was doing better. That day and evening he didn’t know that I was staying with him. I was with him at the hospital since Friday night, to Sunday evening. I will be going home on Sunday night.

October 9th 2011
The nurses and doctors decided not to have therapy because Trevan gave them a scare. So they just let him rest and let the wound heal some more before he did any more. I watched him sleep and he has the bad dreams again all day, and all night. I woke up every time he had the dreams. I counted how many times he would wake up and go to sleep again. It was hard to hear too. When he did wake up I would ask if he remembered any of it. He would say No. I did let the nurses know what was going on with Trevan and also asked him to keep an eye out and check on him. I also asked them to keep a record of it too. I left the evening so I could take care of my kids the next day. My mother in law had to work and had to keep Sarah with me. I said my good-byes. I asked the nurses to keep me in formed on how he did through the night.

October 10th 2011
Trevan told me that he had therapy and that he was in some pain. He was up in the wheel chair and bed. He was learning how to put socks and underwear, shorts and shirt on by him self with out help and doing it all by with one hand. He did OK is what he said. It is hard for him to remember which arm to do in first. The nurses said try to remember left first than over the head than right arm. Then put your glasses on so you can see. He said he would try to remember. Then I went home. He also saw the doctor and asked for Ibuprofen.

October 11th 2011
I got to the hospital to see Trevan about 7ish. He looked tire but also happy to see me. He said to me when I can in “I was wondering when you were going to be here” I said I had to take care of the kids first. In the morning he did therapy then he has lunch and after he had lunch he did some more activities he had u ride outside and played scrabble to get his mind working on thinking. That is what he did during the day when I was not there to see him during the day Trevan had therapy and looked somewhat tired when I got there, he was also in his wheel chair. He ate all the tacos that his mom got for him. After we got done eating he was in a lot of pain. He asked for more pain medicine and he could not get any more ibuprofen. So they gave him percocet for the pain. All we did while I was there with him we talked and watched TV together. Was late when I left to go home and care for my kids.

October 12th 2011
I went to see Trevan about 7ish again. He did a lot of thing in the morning it was all written down so I knew what he did. Which he was to do every day for his memory issues that he has. He had breakfast then he had PT. He did exercises with his legs. ST. tested him it scored 20 out of 25 on the cognitive tests. Then he did some transferring using one leg, 2-½ lbs. on the other leg (right leg all weight and partial weight on the left.) After lunch he did the walker, wheel chair, shower, teeth and hair. All of this info that I keep getting is what he writes down for his memory reminder. I took a look at him and asked him how he is doing, He said he is in a bit of pain. A lot of pain was mainly in the arm. He asked for some pain medicine and he started to fall to sleep. So I told him that I would head home and take care of the kids. He said to tell them that he loves them. I said ok.

October 13th 2011
Just reading his report that he wrote. He did getting in to his wheel chair to go to the toilet, Independence Square and weight. That was his activities during the day and he also had another stitch pop and his leg started bleeding again. That is what he told me. It is covered with gaze. I was happy that they did put that on there to protect it better. He has been sleeping better. They aren’t using the walker with the plate form because of his bad left arm. He is balancing so much better on his right leg which I am very proud of him. I noticed while I was there he didn’t remember that he had his pain medicine which they did give it to him. But they could not give him any more until 9:15 PM. And it was about 8:20 PM when he asked for more pain medicine.

October 14th 2011
Trevan woke up around 5:45 am having pain in his arm and needed to be changed. Found out that Dr. Bess has not released him from putting more weight on his left leg. It will be 30% weight for a while. At a little bit after 9 this morning went for a wheel chair walk. He sat in the wheel chair and used his right foot to move him forward and his right hand also help him to move forward in the direction that he needs to go. He went around the hallway twice. Then after he did that he came back to his room, so after that another person came in and took him down to the shower. Both of us were in the shower room with the nurse getting him ready and helping him stand only on one leg. He could not put much weight on the left leg. After every thing was off the therapist helped him sit on the shower/ tub chair. We both helped him get cleaned up, but we made sure he did most of the cleaning up. He did well at listening to me and stayed seated until we needed him to stand to pull up his pants. He only used his right leg to stand on and his right arm to pull up. I told him if he comes home he is going to have to listen and wait until I can come and help him. I didn’t want him to fall again and end up in the hospital again. After the shower we went back to his room to rest for a few minutes. Then he went to do more moving therapy. He did hopping on the right leg and using the parallel bars with the right arm to and from the wheel chair. Then he did some bumping up and down on the stairs. They would not do any more of them for a while because it tired him out so much. We did not know when he would be able to come home yet. We were going to have someone come by to take a look at the house and see if he can come home. Right now it is set for wed. But it is not set in stone. I am planning to stay the night again and leave about 8:15 am to watch my daughter. Then I will be back to stay with him again that evening.

October 15th 2011
This is what Trevan did for the day, leg/ hip exercises, control wheelchair up and down ramp. ST- did memory strategies, put a picture with info, and writing down notes. OT- watched him do his brushing his teeth, getting dressed, independence square (cashier, shop, and sandwich) memory. That is what he did and also found out he has a urine infection. He slept a little bit, was up having to go to the potty all night, had to remind him mot to put any weight on his left leg. He said that he was not but I doubt it. I was watching him. After he was done he was always putting weight on the left leg every time he pushed his butt back in the bed. I am very worried about that. I did tell the nurses to keep an eye on him that he was having issues with him having to pee all the time. Since he had the infection. They said that they would keep watch and see how he does through the night.

October 16th 2011
Trevan had a bad day at remembering this day. I just don’t remember what he forgot because I was also very tired this day also.

October 17th 2011
We brought Trevan home to do the home inspection so we could find out what we all needed to do and what to get for the house, so Trevan can come home. We didn’t want him to get injured any more than what he is now. When we got to the house the two nurses had to lift him and the wheel chair up the stairs since we didn’t have the ramp up quite yet. We did tell them it would be up once we know what day we could get help. While Trevan was still sitting in the wheel chair he had to use the restroom. He did try to get in the restroom which he did do just fine, but when he was ready to get back out and into the wheel chair he almost fell in to the wheel. So they deiced not to have him use the small bathroom.

iam a mature lady with health issues,wich i hope will be eleviated by surgery,the cheapest i can find is in prague for 4000 i have been saving as much as i can and got 1000 but i need the rest soon as i carnt bear going on this fat ,i have tried dieting and never succeed it is so depressing i dont go out clothes dont fit me its all a mess please please help me

I am writing this because I am needing money for the following: Lawyer fees, business and medical.

I am nearly in my 40's been working out of the country for 10 years but life isn't easy and no savings.

I left my country for a long time hoping something I can do to uplift my life but instead nothing. My son was given by my mother back to his father, which I am against because he has a mistress . He is kind of not a good man. He has mistresses . I am looking forward to fight him in court but what is stopping me is the money. I know lawyers can be expensive, I cant afford it. Another thing is to file a divorce with this crappy man. who has been deceiving me since time of marriage. I was just been patient. He wouldn't file divorce because he wanted to stay in my country. This process also needs money.
This year when I got job I need to undergo a medical and found out that my liver is fat, I am not a drinker but I dont know the reason why it is fat. I need a good medical check up.

The only feasible thing I can come up with is to ask people for help to help me come up with a capital. I know how to run a business. And from there I do the rests... Asking each time is not good. I am only asking for one time help. I need a capital for business, which can sustain me of everything I need to mend my life. I hope and pray that each kind individual will extend their help.

donate: thru Paypal

I never thought I would be on a site asking for money, but I've learned to never say never. I don't have a tragic story to tell, I simply need money to pay off some debts and get started with my life. I have wasted enough of it already. Most of my debt is from unpaid hospital bills back when I didn't have any health insurance. All in all I owe about $5000.00. I moved home to save money, but I feel like every time I take one step in the right direction I get knocked at least ten steps back. My father lost his job so now I am helping him out instead of saving. I have no problem helping my family because they would do the same for me, however I am constantly playing catch up. I feel as if my plans and dreams are getting farther and farther away. I want to go back to school and become a nurse, but my credit isn't good enough to get a student loan. I have decided to join the Peace Corps. I want to travel and as cheesy as it sounds I want to do something meaningful with my life. In order to do that I need to get healthy and fit, as well as pay off debt and help my family. I have always had issues with my weight and I don't want to go to another country to help as the typical "Fat American". I found a personal trainer and a financial adviser and feel they are necessary in making these changes. I appreciate any help at all and if you've made it this far into my rambling, I thank you.Donations are accepted via paypal. Please click on the donate button below.

I am trying to get the 400$ i am short on my rent together for the first. I will send you pictures/videos in exchange for $. $1 for pic, $10 for video.

and no, i am not some fat nasty cow. i am 22, 110 lbs, slim, small boobies and a nice butt. i work as a dancer and if you prefer, will dress in my dance outfits. please help me get the rest of my rent money!!!!!!!

We are a couple, aged 37 and 38. It takes a lot for us to ask for help, but if any can be given - no matter how small - if a lot of people give a little, it can add up to a lot ;) - it would be an absolute godsend. In the past I have always tried to help, whether it was picking up someone asking for food and taking them to buy food at the grocery store, helping another couple with children with a house payment, or simply offering them a job (odd job around my home or even with the company I used to work for before I was laid off.) .

We're about to lose our home. I recently recieved a cut off notice for our utilities and in order to keep them on it will cost $181.61 the balance due however is $188.00. This will not matter however, because I don't have the funds to make the house payment coming due on the 12th of October. I am 399.00 short on the payment. The balance we owe on our home is $6,320.00. Once the house is paid off we will be able to pay $180.00 for lot rent instead of $580.00 for lot rent and house payment.. (Of which only $200.00 goes towards the balance if not paid in full - which is .32 more payments at $580.00 a month). If we can just get our home paid off we would be okay - even with child support garnishing 54% of my pay. By law Child Support Enforcement can garnish up to 65% of a payee's pay.

Just to be up front, I do have a job. Unfortunately I only work about 30 hours a week on average at minimum wage. I am very happy for my job, but after child support garnishes $478.00 a month from my paycheck we can barely make the house payment most months. I have filed for a reduction of child support, but they refuse to use my legitmate income, instead using the income I made previously when I was in a position to help others, and did so regularly. My employer has even filed an affidavit with child support enforcement stating they cannot offer me more then 32 hours and that I make minimum wage. I am curretly looking for a second job, or another job that pays better to take the place of the job I now hold. If anyone has any IT professional positions, please let me know as I would love to come work for you, or your company. That would be the best way to help us out.

My boyfriend would love to work, but he is disabled and currently has an application in with Social Security Disability, unfortunately it takes a long time for it to come through, and by the time it does we will have already lost our home. He was disabled 2 years ago last July when he was working on a wireless tower that was 80 foot tall. It collapsed under him and he is very lucky to have survived the fall, however, when he came down he landed on his ankle and the impact caused the joint to turn around backwards and upside down. He has had surgery for this, unfortunately it is still not right. He cannot straighten out his foot to walk. Because of shortening of the tendons on the inside and front of his ankle he is not able to balance or apply weight to the ankle for more then a few moments. And even that short amount of time causes him extreme pain. He tries to help around the house by doing chores such as mowing our small patch of lawn, but even that small chore takes him over 3 days to complete. My employer does not offer medical insurance, so we are without it. It makes it impossible to go to a doctor to help him get the medical assistance needed to 1. fix his ankle completely and 2. pain management. So he perseveres and does as much as he can.

Every day I have to try to get my 1984 Volvo 240 Station Wagon running so I can get to work that day. When I try to pull out onto the highway to go to work it bogs down like it is under water. It takes crossed fingers, prayer and much clutch/gas pedal manipulation for the car to pull out... and even more to get it to the speed limit. It is very scary because there is a blind corner that people speed around regularly and I'm just waiting for the day I get hit trying to pull out. Unfortunately we don't know what is wrong with it and do not have the ability to take it to a mechanic to see if they can do a diagnostic, much less pay to have it repaired. So if anyone is willing to donate their time and possibly parts to get the car up and running safely it would be greatly appreciated. It is the only legal vehicle we have.

I am trying to do odd jobs around town as well as sell jewelry that I make online and at a little shop here in Newport. It is hard because most months no one seems to buy my jewelry and the jobs are far and few between.

What is really sad is I know come the middle of October we will be homeless, my daughter's dog, Kenji and my dog, Nikki will have to go to the animal shelter if I cannot find them homes. I know I would not be able to care for them at all if we have no home in which to live. As it stands now, I haven't been able to buy them dog food for a few months, and the Animal Shelter in Priest River does not have any spare food for them, so they eat what we eat. the good thing is they are fat and very happy and loving dogs.

If you can help at all, even if it is a little bit ($1, $5 or even $10) - if several help out a little it will add up to a lot; it would be greatly appreciated, and once we're back on our feet, of course we fully intend to pay it forward by helping others.

Thank you for your time and consideration... God Bless

If you are able to help you can donate through PayPal.

Or if you have a job to offer me (18 years experience as an IT professional )

My name is Missy. I am a 49 year old struggling grandmother of 3 sweet, beautiful boys, ages 5, 7 and 8. I am trying desperately to save and protect my grandsons and ensure their futures. I would not ask help if it were only for me. I am asking for help for them, so that my 3 innocent little grandsons will be safe, secure and have a chance in life. As things stand right now, we will be homeless within the next 2 weeks.
My greatest fear is that when (not if) I do become homeless, which isn’t that far off, the state will take my grandsons because we have no place to live, split them up and put them in foster homes. That thought scares the hell out of me. I am all those sweet little boys have. And if they lose each other too, after losing everyone and everything else that they known and loved, I fear their lives will be ruined at the tender ages of 5, 7 and 8.
I suffer from PTSD, COPD and fibromyalgia and each day I struggle with mental distress and physical pain. We live near the New Orleans Metro Area in Jefferson Parish, Louisiana. We were displaced for a year after Hurricane Katrina, came back, bought a mobile home in Lafitte, Louisiana and tried to rebuild our lives. In 2008, when Hurricanes Gustav and Ike hit us back to back, our home was flooded with more than 4 feet of water; unreachable, except by boat for over 2 weeks.
At that time, my mother, age 75, had been experiencing the beginning stages of Alzheimer’s as well as a series of strokes which affected the memory and impulse control centers of her brain due to a vascular disease which severely decreased the flow of blood to those areas of her brain. During these TIA’s and small strokes/seizures, she behaved erratically and during larger ones she could become paranoid and psychotic. She had to be hospitalized for several of the more severe episodes, as she was becoming a danger to herself and others. The effects of these episodes lingered for days, sometimes weeks. Afterwards, she had no memory of anything that happened during that time period.
After the storms, we moved in with my mother to help her and because we did, FEMA stopped helping us. And since we could not afford to rebuild again without FEMA’s help, we lost our home. The recent BP oil spill was just another deep blow to our already struggling local economy.
Mom required 24/7/365 assistance and supervision, which she could not afford. She was eventually diagnosed with vascular disease of the brain and Alzheimer’s. Due to the region of her brain that was affected her disease went unnoticed for several years, until she had a large enough stroke to prompt her to seek medical attention. This diagnosis explained her erratic behavior of the past several years, I have since been homebound, unable to leave mom untended for any length of time and unable to work outside the home due to my mother’s need for the past 3 years.
My mother passed away this past April at the age of 79. She had suffered from Alzheimer's and vascular dementia, suffering several major and minor strokes and seizures over the past 6+ years. On April 9th she suffered a massive stroke, lingering for 9 days before passing on the 18th. God rest her soul, I miss her. I loved my mom very much and did everything I could to help her.
To add to the difficulties already faced by our loss, my youngest daughter, who had been living in Ohio with what turned out to be a conman/ junkie twice her age that saw a vulnerable young woman with 3 children and took advantage of that fact, had been physically, verbally and emotionally abusive to all of them for the past 1½ years. 2 weeks before Mom passed, she got in major legal trouble in Ohio and sent my 3 young grandsons to me to raise.
Now, things have turned for the worst... On August 17th we discovered that my eldest daughter took my mother to an attorney and had her write a will leaving everything my mother had to her and excluding me! This abominable act was done 1 month after Hurricane Katrina when ALL of us were distraught and displaced from the storm! My mom was not in her right mind at that time, even though a full diagnosis had not yet been made on her true condition.... Also, in Louisiana, the bar for mental competency is set so low that so long as you are not actively drooling and babbling in front of the judge/attorney/witnesses you are considered competent!! It doesn’t matter if you won’t remember doing it five minutes later either. My mother, in her right mind, would NEVER have disinherited me.
Now, my greedy, self-serving, ungrateful eldest child decided that she will evict us so she can try to sell my mother's home, in which I and my grandsons, her nephews still live, so she can pay off mom's debt, which she exaggerates, and her student loans. She is fully aware of our circumstances, she just doesn’t care. The only transportation I have for my grandsons is the truck my mom gave me before her death, but did not have the money to transfer title on. It is now part of mom’s estate and she took that too.
I called the Clerk in division where probate/ succession on my mom were filed... Clerk said that I need an attorney to file contest to the will, herein lies the problem... there is not 1 single legal aid agency in the ENTIRE New Orleans Metro area that can handle a contested will!! There are also no private attorneys that will handle it either, unless there's big money in it for them, which in this case there is not.
Clerk also said she has no idea why I was never notified. Judge signed off regardless. There seems to be no justice for the poor in this country... since we can't afford to pay the exorbitant fees of a private attorney, which seems to be a necessity to get anything done in the courts. I have tried appealing to my daughter’s sense of decency, but she doesn’t seem to have one. Her actions are despicable and deplorable. I am ashamed to be her mother. It breaks my heart and sickens me to know that I brought such a hateful, selfish, greedy, heartless person into this world. I did not raise her to be that way.
I've called every single legal aid agency in my area; including the Bar Assoc. Lawyer referral service... no one will help because there just isn't any money in it for them... sad state this country is in when the poor cannot get justice anywhere.
We were told by the eviction court judge on Sept 12th, that we have 24 hours to vacate our home... stating that our situation is a matter for probate court. Thankfully, we found a place, however, we still need about $800.00 more to pay the $420.00 we still owe our new landlord to avoid eviction from this new place by the 5th of October plus $365.00 to the light company which will be past due (cut off)on the 7th and includes a new deposit and transfer fee.

I've also called churches and other charitable organizations for help... there are so many families in need in the New Orleans metro area that any help is minimal. ALL homeless shelters are full up with waiting lists so long they are no longer taking applications for assistance.
I have applied for Section 8 housing, but there is a HUGE waiting list. The HUD Section 8 waiting list in Louisiana is backlogged 5+ years and has more than 20,000 applicants still waiting for vouchers, many of whom are currently homeless. They are not accepting any new applicants.
I have contacted EVERY charitable and public/community service agency that I can think of for help... none has been forthcoming as of yet..... Is there ANYONE out there with a heart who can and will help us? I have nowhere else to turn.
I’ve spent days seeking legal help... bottom line... none available... so since if my defense is denied and I can't fight the eviction then we are out on the streets with nowhere to go.
My nerves are shot; the house hunt is not going well.
I am hurt by my daughter’s actions and so sickened over all of this mess that I can barely think straight. I cry myself to sleep every night and awake with tears in my eyes and a rock in the pit of my stomach. Yet I dry them and try to be strong and act as if everything is normal for my grandsons who need me now more than ever. I still haven’t had time to grieve my mother’s death.
We are now faced with trying to find alternate housing that we can afford on the $840.00 a month income that I receive in Kinship Care for my grandsons. Fat chance in this over-priced rental market. Even a 1 bedroom apartment in Crack Alley goes for more than my income in this post-Katrina/Gustav/Ike market.
And it's starting to look like me and my grandsons will be homeless very soon... by the end of the 1st week in October.
Their mother is in prison and their deadbeat, psycho father hasn't been seen in almost 2 years, ever since he beat the hell out of his girlfriend, killed their little dog in front of my boys, stole and trashed her car and ended up in a mental hospital wanting to kill himself... my babies have had enough grief and loss in their lives... they need love, help and compassion.... and a decent place to live... soon!
We’re trying to stay in this area because my boyfriend of 11 years, and my only help, has an elderly, widowed mother who needs his help too. And we are all she has. She cannot take us in because her trailer is very small and there is no room for 5 more people in it.
Work is also scarce and hard to find in the New Orleans metro area due to the huge influx of big out of state companies with their out of state workers getting all of the bigger jobs and contracts and the even larger influx of foreign laborers so severely underbidding the smaller construction jobs, cutting local workers and sub-contractors, like my boyfriend, right out of the job market. Every day he goes out hunting for work taking any job offered.
I have prayed on this so hard and so often since this mess all began. I have put my burden in Jesus' Hands. For He is the only one that can save us. I can only hope that he sends us Angels to deliver us soon, for without help from someone, somewhere here on earth we are lost. I feel so lost and utterly alone... this truly is my darkest hour.
If there is ANYONE out there who can offer assistance, legal, residential, financial, whatever help you can give... please contact me ASAP. I have exhausted all available resources.
Right now, I can barely afford toilet paper to wipe our butts with.
We are thankful and grateful for the help we have received from 5 of my 267 facebook friends, our local churches and the 2nd Harvest Food Bank, as well as some assistance on our utility bill from our local community action organization. That meager help has helped us survive thus far, but our resources are nearly spent. Please have mercy on us and donate whatever you can to help me save my family. If enough people with a heart and some compassion give up just 1 cup of Latte from Starbucks and donate to help save us, we will be able to make it… small donations add up and every little bit helps.
Thank you for listening to my problems and for your consideration of my plight.
May God Bless you tenfold for any help you send us.
Proverbs 3: 3-7
Let not mercy and truth forsakes you; bind them around your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart,
And so find favor and high esteem in the sight of God and man.
Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding.
In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths.

Updates: September 11, 2011 - I have been able to get a part-time job which is good news, but the rest is just about the same. Thank you for your help Malum Designs
and Pete B.
Since my previous posts have yielded only four donations over the last five months I thought I would try this approach. My financial problems are quite real. If you find my fable entertaining please send a small donation.
- Fortuna vitrea est, tum cum splendet frangitur -

The Grasshopper and the Ant
A Classic retold by Joseph the Beggar King
Part One

Once upon a time, not so very long ago, there were two friends, the Grasshopper and the Ant. Why these two became friends is a bit of a mystery. The Grasshopper was a dreamer and a drifter. The Ant was a believer and an achiever.

In school the Grasshopper would look out the window without thought and only learned the subjects he found interesting. Sometimes he would fall asleep in Math class, other times when a angry teacher would jump him with a pop question he would give the correct answer in way that would confound them.

The Ant was a teachers dream, he soaked up every subject the system taught him, gave the correct answers in the correct way and got straight A s. He would delight his Math teacher by doing compound interest in his head. The Ant believed that what they taught him would help him succeed and was very completive. After graduating High School the Ant got an Academic Scholarship and the Grasshopper got a Pell Grant.

Within four years the Ant got two BS degrees in Business Management and Engineering. The Grasshopper dropped out after the first year. He went to live with the Rainbow Tribe for a few years. On the way to the bus station he found an old fiddle in a trash pile along the road and when he got station he was able to panhandle his bus fare. That was the Grasshoppers first beg.

The Ant took the College like a fish to water. During open Rush some Greeks invite him to be a brother in their Fraternity. He earned his dues by being the Frat Houses Accountant and made beer money by writing term papers. One day while visiting the Tri Deltas he watches the girls play volleyball and is amazed that even though they are playing a vigorous game not one of them breaks a sweat. It is there he meets the girl of his dreams, Polly Fishbane.

While the Grasshopper was living with the Rainbow Tribe he never meets the girl of his dreams, but it does not really matter too much because they believe in Free Love. So free, in fact, that after what you might call the Honeymoon he found himself getting a little bored with it. From the Rainbow Tribe he learns to live off the fat of country and from his new friend, Buffalo with Runs, he learns to live off the land. Buffalo with Runs was an very old Indian that was adopted by the tribe. He taught the Grasshopper what wild plants were safe to eat or use for medicines. He showed him how to set traps and hunt small game. Then, during one winter Gathering four people froze to dead because they were too stoned to come in out of the cold. The Grasshopper became very sad and hopped away.

The Ant is recruited by a Aerospace firm even before he graduated college and goes to work on the Apollo Program. He and his new wife Polly loved the Florida sunshine and settle down to start the American Dream. They decide to have two and half children. Even though the third kid looked a bit odd the Ant loved him as only a father can. With easy money down and mortgage tax deductions compliments of Uncle Sam, they get a house with a two car garage. Next they get two cars and the Rat Race is on. The Ant loves it! Working on the Apollo Program is more than a job, it is being part of history. Polly loves it! Raising their kids and Keeping up of with the Jones. She starts selling Avon products on the side. The Ant buys the best bass boat in the neighborhood, but only uses it once a year because he too busy working. He sets up his retirement funds and a small stock portfolio. Life is Good!

After leaving the Rainbow Tribe the Grasshopper panhandles his way across the country. He sets up in parks and subways where he pretends to play his fiddle while selling jewelry made of deer anthers and beads. The noise he makes with his fiddle sounds like a cat being killed and people give him money just to make him stop. Before the Cops run him off, the Grasshopper usually made enough in one day of begging to cover his needs for the week. When he is hungry he goes to a Soup Kitchen and when he needs clothing there are the Sharing Centers. Every now and then he lets some good hearted woman try to save him. Life is Good and he hops away.

The Apollo Program ends and the new Shuttle program does not start for a couple of years. The Aerospace company were the Ant works at does not win any of the new bids. They offer him a job in California at 20% less of his salary. Polly and the kids are in a rage. Nobody wants to move and leave their friends. The Ant sells his house at a loss because the real estate market in flooded by the laid offs. The one car and the boat are reprocessed. He sells off his stock portfolio for the down payment on the new house in California and even though money is tight the Ant decides to take the family on a short vacation to Key West to uplift their spirits. He finds the Grasshopper selling deer antler jewelry at the Front Street Market. While Polly and the kids go shopping, he and Grasshopper catch up and have a couple of beers. The Ant tells his friend about the laid offs and the move. The Grasshopper asks him - Are you Happy - ? The Ant says - Yes -. His friend says, - Good - . They watch the sunset and see a green flash on the horizon.
To be continue.

I am a 49 year old struggling grandmother of 3 sweet, beautiful boys, ages 5, 7 and 8. I am desperately trying to save and protect my grandsons and ensure their futures. I would not ask help if it were only for me. I am asking for help for them, so that my 3 innocent little grandsons will be safe, secure and have a chance in life. As things stand right now, we will be homeless within the next 2 weeks.
My greatest fear is that when (not if) I do become homeless, which isn’t that far off, the state will take my grandsons because we have no place to live, split them up and put them in foster homes. That thought scares the hell out of me. I am all those sweet little boys have. And if they lose each other too, after losing everyone and everything else that they known and loved, I fear their lives will be ruined at the tender ages of 5, 7 and 8.
I suffer from COPD and fibromyalgia and each day I struggle with physical pain. We live near the New Orleans Metro Area in Jefferson Parish, Louisiana. We were displaced for a year after Hurricane Katrina, came back, bought a mobile home in Lafitte, Louisiana and tried to rebuild our lives. In 2008, when Hurricanes Gustav and Ike hit us back to back, our home was flooded with more than 4 feet of water; unreachable, except by boat for over 2 weeks.
At that time, my mother, age 75, had been experiencing the beginning stages of Alzheimer’s as well as a series of strokes which affected the memory and impulse control centers of her brain due to a vascular disease which severely decreased the flow of blood to those areas of her brain. During these TIA’s and small strokes/seizures, she behaved erratically and during larger ones she could become paranoid and psychotic. She had to be hospitalized for several of the more severe episodes, as she was becoming a danger to herself and others. The effects of these “episodes” lingered for days, sometimes weeks. Afterwards, she had no memory of anything that happened during that time period.
After the storms, we moved in with my mother to help her and because we did, FEMA stopped helping us. And since we could not afford to rebuild again without FEMA’s help, we lost our home. The recent BP oil spill was just another deep blow to our already struggling local economy.
She required 24/7/365 assistance and supervision, which she could not afford. She was eventually diagnosed with vascular disease of the brain and Alzheimer’s. Due to the region of her brain that was affected her disease went unnoticed for several years, until she had a large enough stroke to prompt her to seek medical attention. This diagnosis explained her erratic behavior of the past several years, I have since been homebound, unable to leave mom untended for any length of time and unable to work outside the home due to my mother’s need for the past 3 years.
My mother passed away this past April at the age of 79. She had suffered from Alzheimer's and vascular dementia, suffering several major and minor strokes and seizures over the past 6+ years. On April 9th she suffered a massive stroke, lingering for 9 days before passing on the 18th. God rest her soul, I miss her. I loved my mom very much and did everything I could to help her.
To add to the difficulties already faced by our loss, my youngest daughter, who had been living in Ohio with what turned out to be a conman/ junkie twice her age that saw a vulnerable young woman with 3 children and took advantage of that fact, had been physically, verbally and emotionally abusive to all of them for the past 1 ½ years. 2 weeks before Mom passed, she got in major legal trouble in Ohio and sent my 3 young grandsons to me to raise.
Now, things have turned for the worst... On August 17th we discovered that my eldest daughter took my mother to an attorney and had her write a will leaving everything my mother had to her and excluding me! This abominable act was done 1 month after Hurricane Katrina when ALL of us were distraught and displaced from the storm! My mom was not in her right mind at that time, even though a full diagnosis had not yet been made on her true condition.... Also, in Louisiana, the bar for mental competency is set so low that so long as you are not actively drooling and babbling in front of the judge/attorney/witnesses you are considered competent!! It doesn’t matter if you won’t remember doing it five minutes later either.
Now, my greedy, self-serving, ungrateful eldest child has decided that she will evict us so she can try to sell my mother's home, in which I and my grandsons, her nephews still live, so she can pay off mom's debt, which she exaggerates, and her student loans. She is fully aware of our circumstances… she just doesn’t care. The only transportation I have for my grandsons is the truck my mom gave me before her death, but did not have the money to transfer title on. It is now part of mom’s estate and she wants that too.
I called the Clerk in division where probate/ succession on my mom were filed... Clerk said that I need an attorney to file contest to the will… herein lies the problem... there is not 1 single legal aid agency in the ENTIRE New Orleans Metro area that can handle a contested will!! There are also no private attorneys that will handle it either, unless there's big money in it for them, which in this case there is not.
Clerk also said she has no idea why I was never notified… Judge signed off regardless. There seems to be no justice for the poor in this country... since we can't afford to pay the exorbitant fees of a private attorney, which seems to be a necessity to get anything done in the courts.
I received a 10 day "Notice to Vacate" posted on the door August 24, 2011. My daughter wants immediate possession of the property she manipulated/unduly influenced my mentally ill mother into willing to her barely 1 month after Hurricane Katrina. I don't know where we will go. I will have enough money on September 3rd to pay either 1 month's rent or the deposit, but can't raise both in time I have left. I also have the added expenses of my regular utility bills and new expenses for the transfer of utility services and/or deposits, and transportation. So I need to raise about $2000.00 within the coming 2 week period.
I have tried appealing to my daughter’s sense of decency, but she doesn’t seem to have one. Her actions are despicable and deplorable. I am ashamed to be her mother. It breaks my heart and sickens me to know that I brought such a hateful, selfish, greedy, heartless person into this world. I did not raise her to be that way.
I've called every single legal aid agency in my area; including the Bar Assoc. Lawyer referral service... no one will help because there just isn't any money in it for them... sad state this country is in when the poor cannot get justice anywhere.
I've also called churches and other charitable organizations for help... there are so many families in need in the New Orleans metro area that any help is minimal. ALL homeless shelters are full up with waiting lists so long they are no longer taking applications for assistance.
I have applied for Section 8 housing, but there is a HUGE waiting list. The HUD Section 8 waiting list in Louisiana is backlogged 5+ years and has more than 20,000 applicants still waiting for vouchers, many of whom are currently homeless. They are not accepting any new applicants.
I have contacted EVERY charitable and public/community service agency that I can think of for help... none has been forthcoming as of yet..... Is there ANYONE out there with a heart who can and will help us? I have nowhere else to turn.
I’ve spent days seeking legal help... bottom line... none available... so since if my defense is denied and I can't fight the eviction then we are out on the streets with nowhere to go.
My nerves are shot; the house hunt is not going well.
I am hurt by my daughter’s actions and so sickened over all of this mess that I can barely think straight. I cry myself to sleep every night and awake with tears in my eyes and a rock in the pit of my stomach. Yet I dry them and try to be strong and act as if everything is normal for my grandsons who need me now more than ever. I still haven’t had time to grieve my mother’s death.
We are now faced with trying to find alternate housing that we can afford on the $840.00 a month income that I receive in Kinship Care for my grandsons. Fat chance in this over-priced rental market. Even a 1 bedroom apartment in “Crack Alley” goes for more than my income in this post-Katrina/Gustav/Ike market.
And it's starting to look like me and my grandsons will be homeless very soon... by the end of the 1st week in September.
Their mother is in prison and their deadbeat, psycho father hasn't been seen in almost 2 years, ever since he beat the hell out of his girlfriend, killed their little dog in front of my boys, stole and trashed her car and ended up in a mental hospital wanting to kill himself... my babies have had enough grief and loss in their lives... they need love, help and compassion.... and a decent place to live... soon!
We’re trying to stay in this area because my boyfriend of 11 years, and my only help, has an elderly, widowed mother who needs his help too. And we are all she has. She cannot take us in because her trailer is very small and there is no room for 5 more people in it.
Work is also scarce and hard to find in the New Orleans metro area due to the huge influx of big out of state companies with their out of state workers getting all of the bigger jobs and contracts and the even larger influx of foreign laborers so severely underbidding the smaller construction jobs, cutting local workers and sub-contractors, like my boyfriend, right out of the job market. Every day he goes out hunting for work taking any job offered.
I have prayed on this so hard and so often since this mess all began. I have put my burden in Jesus' Hands. For He is the only one that can save us. I can only hope that he sends us an Angel to deliver us soon, for without help from someone, somewhere here on earth we are lost. I feel so lost and utterly alone... this truly is my darkest hour.
If there is ANYONE out there who can offer assistance, legal, residential, financial, whatever help you can give... please contact me ASAP. I have exhausted all available resources.
I need at least 2 bedrooms in a safe neighborhood... my total income is $840.00 per month... Right now, I can barely afford toilet paper to wipe our butts with.
We are thankful and grateful for the help we have received from our local churches and the 2nd Harvest Food Bank, as well as some assistance on our utility bill from our local community action organization. That meager help has helped us survive thus far, but our resources are nearly spent. Please have mercy on us and donate whatever you can to help me save my family… every little bit helps.
Thank you for listening to my problems and for your consideration of my plight.
May God Bless you tenfold for any help you send us.
Proverbs 3: 3-7
Let not mercy and truth forsakes you; bind them around your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart,
And so find favor and high esteem in the sight of God and man.
Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding.
In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths.

I want to feel pretty PLEASE

Many people will not understand my desire to go to great lengths to feel pretty, but inside it is something I need to try. Everyone may say I'm pretty, but I need to feel it. I'm so insecure with my body. There are many things that I need to have work done on.

1. Moles removed - I have 5 facial moles that I want removed. They are skin colored, but really bother me and make me feel ugly everytime I look into a mirror and see them.

2. Breast Implants - Before kids, I used to be a 36D, and now I am a 34B....big difference. I don't want to look "fake", but I would like to have the boobs I used to have before the 3 kids.

3. Tummy Tuck - I was 105lbs before kids by the time my 3rd child turned 3 i was at 250lbs. I have lost 80lbs but i still have extra skin and need to have my tummy muscles put back together.

4.Lipo - I'd like to have lipo to remove unwanted fat and then I can start working out to keep it off.

This may seem extreme to several, but to me, it will help me feel like I've always wanted and have the confidence I need. Please help me feel pretty.

Would you like to help with this dream? Use the contact form below and let us know exactly how you can contribute.

I want to feel pretty PLEASE

Many people will not understand my desire to go to great lengths to feel pretty, but inside it is something I need to try. Everyone may say I'm pretty, but I need to feel it. I'm so insecure with my body. There are many things that I need to have work done on.

1. Moles removed - I have 5 facial moles that I want removed. They are skin colored, but really bother me and make me feel ugly everytime I look into a mirror and see them.

2. Breast Implants - Before kids, I used to be a 36D, and now I am a 34B....big difference. I don't want to look "fake", but I would like to have the boobs I used to have before the 3 kids.

3. Tummy Tuck - I was 105lbs before kids by the time my 3rd child turned 3 i was at 250lbs. I have lost 80lbs but i still have extra skin and need to have my tummy muscles put back together.

4.Lipo - I'd like to have lipo to remove unwanted fat and then I can start working out to keep it off.

This may seem extreme to several, but to me, it will help me feel like I've always wanted and have the confidence I need. Please help me feel pretty.

Would you like to help with this dream? Use the contact form below and let us know exactly how you can contribute.

I want to feel pretty PLEASE

Many people will not understand my desire to go to great lengths to feel pretty, but inside it is something I need to try. Everyone may say I'm pretty, but I need to feel it. I'm so insecure with my body. There are many things that I need to have work done on.

1. Moles removed - I have 5 facial moles that I want removed. They are skin colored, but really bother me and make me feel ugly everytime I look into a mirror and see them.

2. Breast Implants - Before kids, I used to be a 36D, and now I am a 34B....big difference. I don't want to look "fake", but I would like to have the boobs I used to have before the 3 kids.

3. Tummy Tuck - I was 105lbs before kids by the time my 3rd child turned 3 i was at 250lbs. I have lost 80lbs but i still have extra skin and need to have my tummy muscles put back together.

4.Lipo - I'd like to have lipo to remove unwanted fat and then I can start working out to keep it off.

This may seem extreme to several, but to me, it will help me feel like I've always wanted and have the confidence I need. Please help me feel pretty.

Would you like to help with this dream? Use the contact form below and let us know exactly how you can contribute.

I want to feel pretty PLEASE

Many people will not understand my desire to go to great lengths to feel pretty, but inside it is something I need to try. Everyone may say I'm pretty, but I need to feel it. I'm so insecure with my body. There are many things that I need to have work done on.

1. Moles removed - I have 5 facial moles that I want removed. They are skin colored, but really bother me and make me feel ugly everytime I look into a mirror and see them.

2. Breast Implants - Before kids, I used to be a 36D, and now I am a 34B....big difference. I don't want to look "fake", but I would like to have the boobs I used to have before the 3 kids.

3. Tummy Tuck - I was 105lbs before kids by the time my 3rd child turned 3 i was at 250lbs. I have lost 80lbs but i still have extra skin and need to have my tummy muscles put back together.

4.Lipo - I'd like to have lipo to remove unwanted fat and then I can start working out to keep it off.

This may seem extreme to several, but to me, it will help me feel like I've always wanted and have the confidence I need. Please help me feel pretty.

Would you like to help with this dream? Use the contact form below and let us know exactly how you can contribute.

I want to feel pretty PLEASE

Many people will not understand my desire to go to great lengths to feel pretty, but inside it is something I need to try. Everyone may say I'm pretty, but I need to feel it. I'm so insecure with my body. There are many things that I need to have work done on.

1. Moles removed - I have 5 facial moles that I want removed. They are skin colored, but really bother me and make me feel ugly everytime I look into a mirror and see them.

2. Breast Implants - Before kids, I used to be a 36D, and now I am a 34B....big difference. I don't want to look "fake", but I would like to have the boobs I used to have before the 3 kids.

3. Tummy Tuck - I was 105lbs before kids by the time my 3rd child turned 3 i was at 250lbs. I have lost 80lbs but i still have extra skin and need to have my tummy muscles put back together.

4.Lipo - I'd like to have lipo to remove unwanted fat and then I can start working out to keep it off.

This may seem extreme to several, but to me, it will help me feel like I've always wanted and have the confidence I need. Please help me feel pretty.

Would you like to help with this dream? Use the contact form below and let us know exactly how you can contribute.

Do you believe in true love? I do, and I may always believe if bestowed the proper provisions.

She was the only thing that saved me from a life of crime and possibly worse, and she came all the way from Argentina to do so. I was, as I am now, a poor student in Colorado and a "lucky bum" who finally got a break by love finding him. Currently I study foreign language, ie; Spanish, French, German, Russian, and Latin. As impressively smart as one would assume i'd have to be to study so many languages at once, to the contrary I was terribly stupid where it matters most, which is at romance. In short because of being a total " fat -head" and ingrate, I let her get on a plane out of my life without saying goodbye. Its been over a year.

Since then, my nights have been like torture without her, and each new romantic fling has been as hollow and meaningless as the preceding. The good news is however, that her and I have keep frequent contact via SKYPE.COM video calls.(thank God 4 skype!) She is in the same position as I am, realizing that she too cannot find closure to our love, and therefore we have decided that we want to be together, except forever this time. So I decided to move to Buenos Aires, Argentina indefinitely to be with the only girl for me.

However it is not enough for me to just get a plane ticket and rush over to South America and live happily ever after, I will also need a job, as well as a room or a hostel to stay in while I job hunt. ( Quite frankly, I am not trying to be unemployed,broke, and living in her mother's house in S. America, no thanks!) Therefore I am also hoping to earn/receive enough money to enroll in a program called ITTO or (International Teachers Training Organization) in Guadalajara, Mexico to receive my license to teach English as a second language(TESL) before going to live in Buenos Aires.

Target date you ask? I am trying to get out of here by early september or october of 2011. As it stands I am basically homeless, out of school for vacation, (meaning no financial aid) and have been doing temporary labor jobs which barely keeps me fed on the weekly basis, let alone permit me to save money for the provisions necessary to go on this life altering journey to find the truth of true love.

All together, I estimate with the cost of a round trip ticket to Argentina ( round trip, because non- citizens are not permitted with one way tickets) as well as the cost of the fore mentioned ITTO course and travel to and from Mexico from Colorado, plus the survival money I will need once ( god willing) I arrived in B's A's, I stand in a financial need of about $5,000.00 or slightly more.

I realize there are people with more important matters that can use money, and I truly hope they receive charity just as I would like to. However this is a petition for those who understand what it is like to let the perfect one get away and could do little or nothing about it, like a child who drops their ice cream off the cone and sadly watches as it melts on the side walk. By donating to this cause, you can be the "adult" who walks up to that kid, fumbles in his pocket for some spare change to present that poor kid with a new ice cream that takes the tears from their eyes. She is my ice cream, and I don't want another flavor for my whole life. You can help make this possible, by aiding me with an airline ticket, or even check out the ITTO website and if you feel generous enough and pay the tuition of the program. I would be more than happy to correspond with each and every donor to update you on this story with letters and even pictures of what became of your generosity.

I'd like to thank any donors in advance, as well as any one who took the time to read my story and had it in their heart to give but wasn't able. Together we can prove that there is a such things as second chances at a good thing, chivalry is certainly not dead, and love stories aren't just for the story books, in fact...it can happen to you!

Thanks and warm regards,

James McDonald

Do you believe in true love? I do, and I may always believe if bestowed the proper provisions.

She was the only thing that saved me from a life of crime and possibly worse, and she came all the way from Argentina to do so. I was, as I am now, a poor student in Colorado and a "lucky bum" who finally got a break by love finding him. Currently I study foreign language, ie; Spanish, French, German, Russian, and Latin. As impressively smart as one would assume i'd have to be to study so many languages at once, to the contrary I was terribly stupid where it matters most, which is at romance. In short because of being a total " fat -head" and ingrate, I let her get on a plane out of my life without saying goodbye. Its been over a year.

Since then, my nights have been like torture without her, and each new romantic fling has been as hollow and meaningless as the preceding. The good news is however, that her and I have keep frequent contact via SKYPE.COM video calls.(thank God 4 skype!) She is in the same position as I am, realizing that she too cannot find closure to our love, and therefore we have decided that we want to be together, except forever this time. So I decided to move to Buenos Aires, Argentina indefinitely to be with the only girl for me.

However it is not enough for me to just get a plane ticket and rush over to South America and live happily ever after, I will also need a job, as well as a room or a hostel to stay in while I job hunt. ( Quite frankly, I am not trying to be unemployed,broke, and living in her mother's house in S. America, no thanks!) Therefore I am also hoping to earn/receive enough money to enroll in a program called ITTO or (International Teachers Training Organization) in Guadalajara, Mexico to receive my license to teach English as a second language(TESL) before going to live in Buenos Aires.

Target date you ask? I am trying to get out of here by early september or october of 2011. As it stands I am basically homeless, out of school for vacation, (meaning no financial aid) and have been doing temporary labor jobs which barely keeps me fed on the weekly basis, let alone permit me to save money for the provisions necessary to go on this life altering journey to find the truth of true love.

All together, I estimate with the cost of a round trip ticket to Argentina ( round trip, because non- citizens are not permitted with one way tickets) as well as the cost of the fore mentioned ITTO course and travel to and from Mexico from Colorado, plus the survival money I will need once ( god willing) I arrived in B's A's, I stand in a financial need of about $5,000.00 or slightly more.

I realize there are people with more important matters that can use money, and I truly hope they receive charity just as I would like to. However this is a petition for those who understand what it is like to let the perfect one get away and could do little or nothing about it, like a child who drops their ice cream off the cone and sadly watches as it melts on the side walk. By donating to this cause, you can be the "adult" who walks up to that kid, fumbles in his pocket for some spare change to present that poor kid with a new ice cream that takes the tears from their eyes. She is my ice cream, and I don't want another flavor for my whole life. You can help make this possible, by aiding me with an airline ticket, or even check out the ITTO website and if you feel generous enough and pay the tuition of the program. I would be more than happy to correspond with each and every donor to update you on this story with letters and even pictures of what became of your generosity.

I'd like to thank any donors in advance, as well as any one who took the time to read my story and had it in their heart to give but wasn't able. Together we can prove that there is a such things as second chances at a good thing, chivalry is certainly not dead, and love stories aren't just for the story books, in fact...it can happen to you!

Thanks and warm regards,

James McDonald

My problem started in July 2010. I was involved in an auto accident. I rear-ended a woman, who in turn rear-ended the person in front of her. The reason it happened was that the person in front of me hit their gas and got over to an open spot in the lane to my left. This move was so fast I didn't have room to either side and I saw the reason that driver moved was the cars in front of him or her were at a dead stop. We were traveling uphill so I was unable to see past the car and I had no idea people were stopped. I had less than a second to hit my brakes. Luckily no body was injured.

Here is where the story gets ugly. My mom had paid my auto insurance but she lost her job so I started to pay the premiums. I told my insurance agent to automatically deduct the premium and I gave her my bank information. So I was under the impression I had insurance. I did not. The agent only charged me for one month's premium and never set up the automatic deduction. Great. But there seemed to be a silver lining...the two other vehicles involved in the accident drove away before the police arrived. I did not get a ticket, I was completely sober and cooperative, and the police were surprised two victims of an accident would just drive away. Both parties got all of my information, they drove away before I got theirs. At the time of the accident I wasn't worried because I thought I had insurance.
When I called my agent I was informed that my policy lapsed because I hadn't paid my monthly premium.

I was curious if the fact that both of these people drove away would take the heat off of me. The police thought this was possible, after all, how can they prove they didn't smash up their vehicles further after they drove away to get more insurance money?

It gets worse. I left my job a few years ago because I had a job all but promised to me in Denver. Obviously, I didn't get the job in Denver. Not sure why, I aced the interview. So with no steady income (I was used to making about 42k yearly) I held hope I'd land a good job and had no choice to but to survive on a credit card for food and gas. That good job never came along. I ended up working overnights as a nurse assistant in the mental health unit. I've been drowning in debt, I had to get a car from what some consider a predatory lending car lot. I lost the hospital job in April for 'misconduct' (I worked nights and someone reported that I was sleeping, I wasn't but they didn't believe me so now I don't qualify for unemployment.) So, no income to pay for that vehicle and it got repossessed. But the best part is I got a letter in January 2011 stating that I owe one of the parties involved in the accident around 5k. I don't have it. If I had the money I would write both of the drivers involved in that accident fat checks right now, but I simply do not have the resources. The letter from the state dept of transportation stated that my license would be suspended unless I came up with the money. So I called the agency, and from my conversation with the state employee it sounded like my case would be reviewed. Nope. A collection agency sent me a letter saying in total I owe nearly 35k for the two cars and my credit cards.

In February I was on my way to a friend's house and I was pulled over because my temp tags were expired. The officer ran my license and I was handcuffed and taken to jail. I have never been arrested, and my driving record is excellent. The officer even thought it was silly. Regardless, now I have a court date in early July and I have the public defender taking my case. He said I either need to pay $1000 fine, or spend a minimum of 2 days in jail. So it looks as if I will be in jail at least 2 days because I have no money. Being without a vehicle is no picnic. My job search is limited to places on a bus route close to my home in Kansas City. I have no friends or family with that kind of money. I am not a drug addict, or a criminal. My career tanked, and I've kept falling through the cracks. I stay positive and I love life, but the anxiety and absence of pride in my life are making me isolate more. I can't afford to do anything. Luckily my brother is letting me stay in a spare room at his place or I may be homeless. I am a hard worker, I have a bachelor's degree, and I am a pleasant person to work with. But I have no car, no money, horrible credit, and bleak job prospects. Please do not think I feel sorry for myself. I've made stupid decisions that got me where I am. I take responsibility for putting myself in situations where these things happened. And especially for not paying attention to my financial obligations (the insurance premium). That being said, all I can do is look forward and do the best I can to get back on my feet. At this moment I feel like a wet puppy who is trying unsuccessfully to jump out of the tub during a bath. I need help. I don't know who to turn to. I've wanted to volunteer at some places to meet people and network but without a vehicle and a suspended license I can't even volunteer at most places. Please, if anyone can help, contact me with suggestions. I desperately need to file for bankruptcy but that costs around 1,800.00 and I can't afford that.

I also have around 27k in student loan debt. That debt along with the approximately 35k in unsecured debt leaves me with a very large amount of money that I have no realistic chance of paying back. The student loans will not be affected if I file for bankruptcy. Which is fine. As a matter of pride and doing what is right I don't like that my debts can simply be written off, but that is seemingly my only option. I would love to volunteer for a charity of my debtor's choosing to start to contribute something, but that proposal often times ends up sounding like a mutated version of indentured servitude.

I apologize for the rambling. This is the first time I have ever written all of this down at once and I feel better.

Thank you for your time.

I am a 19 year old girl living in New York. I am not overweight but a little chubby. I am extremly self conscious. I could deal with my chubbiness if only it was distributed more evenly throughout my body. Instead my fat seems to be all in my butt and thighs. I have tried everything. I have been dieting and exercising since I was 11 years old.Even when I loose weight through dieting and exercising the weight in my butt and thighs is stubborn and will not go away. When I was 16 I even got so desperate that I starved myself by using a friends amphetamines to curb my appetite. Even then the fat remained. I have not worn a bathing suit since I was 12 because I hate how I look even one pieces. I hide my fat by wearing baggy clothes. Because of my unusually large butt I have trouble finding jeans that fit right. Small sizes won't fit over my butt and zipper closed and larger sizes fit over my butt but are much too large at the waist. My jeans always look stupid on me so I wear large long shirts to cover it up.I currently work two jobs. One as a cashier at a dollar store and the other cleaning at a large shoe store. I am saving all of my current earnings to buy a car. As of now I walk to and from work. So please help me if you can. Every penny helps. I'm not looking to use liposuction and plastic surgery to turn into some "perfect" barbie doll. I would just like to be able to wear normal clothes again.

When I got pregnant with my first son I weighed about 100 pounds. He weighed 10 pounds at birth and of course the weight I gained ripped my small body to shreads with strech marks and streched skin. I had 2 more children that didn't do near the damage of the first. I had 3 c-sections that didn't help my cause. I am a 31 year old stay at home mother to my 3 children and the wife of a career fireman. I live with back pain from the skin that hangs from my abdomen. Insurance will not cover a tummy tuck as they deem it cosmetic. I saw a plastic surgeon and he said there could easily be 5-10 pounds of skin....not fat...removed from my tummy. I weigh about 125 pounds and am 5' 3" so I am not fat. I excersise regularly and there is no way to tone stretched out skin. I know this is a long shot and there are much more needy causes but if you have ever had to carry this extra baggage around you would understand. If you would like pictures of what my stomach looks like I will provide them gladly. I wouldn't object to payment being made to my surgeon to ensure the funds wouldn't be spent other wise. This is my dream....to be normal again. My email is mistyisablonde@gmail.com.

Hi. My name is Ovidio. I'm 21 years old with no job.I've been doing odd jobs to make money, such as back ground acting on the chicago code or selling scabs on craigslist. I am willing to accept any money whether it be 5 dollars, 20 dollars, or even 80 dollars. the more dollars, the more stuff I can buy. The more stuff I buy, the bigger the chance I could be on that TV Show hoarders. Did I mention that I'm getting fat? Yea, you can see my double chin. If you want, I can take a picture of my excess skin and mail it to you. hmmm, or you can help me out pleaseeeeeeeee. Gracias

http://www.giveforward.com/comingtogetherforcody

Please visit our page listed above to help Cody!

Our little Cody has not been well. Since he was just a month or so old he has had a problem choking when he eats. Around the time that he was eight months old we noticed he was having these choking episodes with much more frequency and they were becoming more severe. It got to the point where we were afraid to even give him a bottle without having the phone ready to call 911!

We took him to his doctor, who suggested we see a feeding specialist. And so began our journey.....

Right away Rosie (the specialist) noticed that Cody had trouble moving his tongue and chewing food. He tended to rush when he ate and that caused even more choking, but he was choking on everything- even just water. After a horrifying episode during one of his sessions, in which Cody choked on a piece of bread and turned blue, Rosie and Dr. Pepper (Cody's doctor) decided it was time for a Swallow Study.

During the study our little Cody enjoyed every last bit of barium as we watched him mash up food and try to swallow it. The speech therapist who was monitoring the test noticed that Cody's esophagus didn't seem to be moving quite right, he rarely chewed and had a lot of acid reflux going on. Aside from those observations, Cody had Oral Dysphagia as well. Those findings led us to an Upper GI Study that ruled out some really bad stuff, but Cody started having new symptoms. He was having difficulty breathing and had to be on nebulizer treatments, was increasingly grumpy, was gassy and had a very full looking belly that hurt so badly sometimes that he couldn't give us hugs. It wasn't long until he slowed down on his eating and Dr. Pepper decided it was time for a trip to Denver Children's Hospital.

In Denver Cody met a Pediatric Gastroenterologist and Pulmonary doctor who read his records and checked him in for several more tests. An Endoscopy and a Broncoscopy turned up a very nice looking esophagus (even the biopsies looked good!) but some pretty bad asthma. They placed a tube in his nose for another test called a PH Impedence Study to measure what was coming back up form the stomach and during which times it was happening. This was all very hard on our tiny little man. He had a horrible reaction to the anethesia which forced him to have to be hooked up to monitors. Anyone who knows our Cody knows what a busy little guy he is!

The results were confusing, though, because Cody had been on a medication that was supposed to help with motility and we knew it did SOMETHING for him- but with his great looking esophagus we weren't sure what it was helping with. If his esophagus was moving fine, why did a drug that was supposed to help it move make him feel a little better? The doctors decided to do a Gastric Emptying Study as well. Cody was NOT happy because he couldn't eat for yet another day. If you know our Cody- you know he loves to eat!

The next day we did the study and it didn't take long to get the results. In the time it takes the average stomach to empty, Cody's stomach had only emptied 7% of it's contents. The medication had been helping his little belly move. Unfortunately, it has some nasty side effects and he can't go back on it. They are currently trying him on a low dose of Erythromycin, which is the last medication available to treat Gastroparesis (Delayed Gastric Emptying), according to our medical team.

We soon got the results of the tube they placed in his nose, as well. Cody has a pretty big reflux problem, too. Since his belly is so slow to empty, his acid has no place to go but up. No wonder he is so grumpy. The constant flow of acid is also a huge trigger for the breathing problems he is having. They are now trying him on both Zantac and Prevacid- both drugs that have not worked well alone, but we are praying they will work better together.

We are trying hard to give Cody small meals throughout the day and to incorporate all the nutrients he needs, but its hard. With the delayed emptying we are supposed to avoid high fat and high fiber foods. We already have to avoid eggs, dairy, soy, berries and nuts due to allergies, so you can imagine what a challenge we have on our hands!

Cody's GI doctors have recomended 2-3 surgeries, including a feeding tube. Gastroparesis is a Dysmotility Disorder. There is a small chance he could outgrow this and there is also a small chance it is actually caused by something treatable- although in 60% of the cases there is no known cause.

In order to fully understand Cody's condition, why he has it and what all the options are, as well as how to care for him properly- we need to take him to Columbus, Ohio to see one of the very few Dysmotility Specialists in the country. We have no idea how long we'll have to be there or how much of this trip will come out of our pockets. Cody's insurance does not cover any travel expenses and will likely not cover any repeat testing he may need. He is currently on a modified diet and they don't cover the costs of any of that, either.


We are asking that our friends, family and anyone who is able come together to help us- both financially and spiritually. We need the finances to get us there and keep us going even when we can't work due to surgery or whatever may come; and we need your prayers and support to keep us strong as we try to manage this difficult and unfamiliar situation. We want so badly for our baby to feel better- he has brought us so much joy and is truely our little sunshine!

Thank you all so much for taking the time to read our story and for doing what you can!